Obituary of Jane Durkee Edlund

Jane Louise Durkee Edlund died peacefully at home on Friday March 31, 2023, cared for by her children. Jane's grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and her sister Martha were able to visit her during the last few days of her life and share in her love Jane was foremost dedicated to her family. She dearly loved her husband Carl and her four children Eugene, Carla, Lydia, and Eric. The love of her life was of course Carl. Their relationship and their love was so inspiring. It was not unusual to hear Carl calling out 'Janie... Janie…. Janie..' and when she would say 'What Carl?' he would sweetly respond ' I love you ' and she would say "I love you too". They celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary in November 2019, just prior to Carl's death the following Spring. Jane was baptized into the Homer Congregational Church where she was a member most of her life. Her seat was with her family in the front right corner of the rows of pews. Jane was a member of many organizations within the church including Women's Fellowship, and one of the first women to become a Deacon. Jane was always there to help organize and support activities within the church Jane graduated from Homer High School in 1944. She participated in many activities including Cheer Leading, Student Council, Latin Club, Band, Chorus and Operetta. She was in the senior play. This was in the midst of World War II, and she played the part of a Lieutenant Colonel. Following High School, Jane attended William Smith College in Geneva NY for 3 years. She married Eugene Jones in May 1947 in Homer, NY. After a terrible car accident that same year, she lost her Eugene. She and her brother Jimmy nearly lost their lives as well. When still in the hospital recovering from multiple injuries, she learned of her husband's death and that she was pregnant with her first child. Carl Edlund, who was best man at the wedding and was Eugene's Theta Delta Chi fraternity brother, became Jane's support as she recovered from the accident and loss of her husband. They eventually fell in love. She married Carl Edlund in November 1949 at her Grandma Lena's home on James Street in Homer, NY. Jane was the center of the family traditions, Jane and Carl's home was always open for family parties. Jane was always there, making sure everyone had what they needed. There was not a birthday, family celebration, or holiday that got missed. Anyone that came to Jane's home surely remembers how important it was for her take care of them. She was always the last to be seated at the table. Everyone was welcomed at Jane and Carl's house. She was the neighborhood mom, involved in scouts, the Parent-Teachers Association, youth programs at church, and an all-round wonderful mom. Jane and Carl had fun. They enjoyed the lake, and made the time spent at her mother's cottage the best for all of her children. Jane enjoyed boating, swimming, and just being at the lake with family. As a young girl she and her brothers were responsible for walking their pet donkeys from the Durkee farm (located where Durkee Memorial Park is today) to their cottage at the south end of Skaneateles Lake. It was said that the people along that route marked the beginning of summer by seeing the Durkee kids walking donkeys to the Lake. Jane also took up skiing in the 50's because Carl had a love for being outdoors in the winter. She skied with the family most of her adult life. At our yearly Valentine's party at Greek Peak, when Jane was in her 80's, she would prepare a family picnic and then join Carl and the rest of the family for lunch at the chalet. When Carl took up golfing, Jane was not going to be a golf widow. They joined the Cortland Country Club together. She was a member of the women's league and was on the team that won a championship in the summer of 1985. She also enjoyed couples club and golfing with Carl and friends. She golfed into her nineties, driving the golf cart from their home to the club house. And of course there was the Friday Night Social Club. It started with having drinks and dinner weekly with Carl's family, and was later expanded to include dear friends. Good friends and so many good times. Jane was a wife, mother, sister, aunt, housewife, substitute teacher, real estate agent and a home health aide. And of course she was a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother. She is remembered as the neighborhood mom where the kids were always invited in. During the recent pandemic, she watched the church services at home on television She so much appreciated the outreach from Rev. Vicki Burtson for bringing communion to her home, and having the church carolers come sing to her last Christmas. Jane was born in October 1926 to Florence Foster Durkee and Albert Durkee. Albert and Florence owned the Durkee's Domestic Bakery that was started by Albert's parents Lena and Burt Durkee. Jane was the oldest of nine children (Jane, William, Thomas, Robert, Margaret, James, John, Susan, Martha). Jane is survived by her children Carla (Lane) Walsh, Lydia (Dan Bock) Edlund and Eric (Nancy) Edlund, grandchildren Beth (Chris) Leatham, Pierce Walsh, Briony Walsh, Megan (Andrew) Boone, Ashley (Stuart) Chescheir, Onolee (Bryan) Stephan and Nash (Heather) Bock, great-grandchildren Owl, Raven, Kestrel, Lucy, Quinn, Cole, Elizabeth, Madelyn, Rowan and Rosalie, her sister Martha Weinthaler, brother-in-law, Pete Bowker, sister-in-law, Patty Ferro Durkee, many nieces and nephews and Mary Alice Rainwater (Sarah and Beth's mother). Jane was predeceased by her husband Carl Edlund, her husband Eugene Jones Sr., her son Eugene Jones Jr., her parents, and her siblings William (Marguerite) Durkee, Thomas (Flossie) Durkee, Robert (Esther) Durkee, Margaret Bowker, James Durkee, John (Irmgard, Judy) Durkee, Susan (Micheal) Morgan. mother-in-law Nellie (Helen) O'Connell Edlund, in-laws Barb and Al King, Caroline and Jack Tainter, a grandchild Sarah Anne Jones, and a great-grandchild Nissa Walsh. Please join us for a Celebration of Jane's Life. It will be held at the Homer Congregational Church starting at noon on Saturday April 15th. The first hour is an opportunity to greet the family, and see Jane one last time . At 1:00 the memorial service will begin, led by Rev. Vicki Burtson. To stream the service visit www.wright-beard.com and click on Jane's obituary, then click on the live funeral stream tab. A reception will follow the service in the Russel Fellowship Room at the church. Anyone who is unable to come to the church is invited to attend a virtual service. The details on how to connect will be on the Wright-Beard Funeral Home website. A private burial will be held at the Cortland Rural Cemetery later in May. Donations may be made to Homer Congregational Church, 28 South Main, Homer NY 13077 or Hospice & Palliative Services, 11 Kennedy Parkway, Cortland, NY 13045.